RESPECT

Daniel 5:1–6:28; 1 Thessalonians 5:12–28; Job 41:10–20

Instead of easing the burdens of our church leaders, we often add to them. The sometimes thankless job of ministry is weighed down with our taking and not giving, our complaining, and our squirming under authority.
We can see from Paul’s letters that church communities haven’t changed much since the first century. In his letter to the believers in Thessalonica, Paul requests: “Now we ask you, brothers, to respect those who labor among you and rule over you in the Lord and admonish you, and to esteem them beyond all measure in love, because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves” (1 Thess 5:12).
A passage like this might convict us for our bad attitude or lack of service. We might make a greater effort to love and respect those who are in positions of authority. Or we might try to ease the load of our leaders by serving in our communities. But unless we address the disorder within our hearts, our efforts won’t lead to the peace that Paul commands.
In Thessalonica, members of the community seem to have had a problem with authority. After Paul urges them to “be at peace” (1 Thess 5:12), he tells them to “admonish the disorderly” (1 Thess 5:14). He demonstrates that the problem is deeper—it rests within the natural chaos of our own hearts. It’s easy to find creative ways to be disorderly and compound this chaos—passive-aggressive behavior, defensiveness, or cynicism. Yet Paul says, “see to it that no one pays back evil for evil” (1 Thess 5:15).
The disorder of our hearts and minds needs to be transformed. Only when we are presented with a true picture of ourselves and a true picture of what God has done for us can we begin to understand the chaos in our hearts. Only when God rules our chaos can we be an agent of peace in our communities.

How can you relieve the burdens of leaders in your community? What needs to change about your attitude toward them?

REBECCA VAN NOORD


John D. Barry and Rebecca Kruyswijk, Connect the Testaments: A One-Year Daily Devotional with Bible Reading Plan (Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press, 2012).